The character of Mercutio is a charismatic and charming one. He is the most articulate character in the play and the movie, and he is a brilliant wordsmith. On the way to the Capulet ball Romeo says of Mercutio: ‘You have dancing shoes with nimble soles’ (A-1, S-4, L-13-14). The significance is that Mercutio is literally a dancer, and a flamboyant fun-lover, as we notice in the movie at the Capulet party, and metaphorically a dancer in his skillful use of words.
Mercutio is a character that likes being the center of attention, Romeo describes him to the Nurse as: ‘a gentleman… who likes to hear himself talk.’ (A-2, S-4, L-144-145). Mercutio is also the character that knows Romeo, he can and does, criticise’s Romeo’s fickleness in love. He can do this because he and Romeo are like a pair, like Romeo and Juliet. In the movie, Luhrmann makes the decision to play Mercutio as black, gay and a cross-dresser. But why portray him like this? I believe Luhrmann made this character so strong in these ways to push society’s ‘comfort zone’ and change this famous tale of love into a story that is closer to our own reality, a look into society without blind eyes, presents to us something controversial but extremely real.
Shakespeare didn’t give this impression of Mercutio to us, well not so direct and obvious, but allowed enough room in hi wording for this concept to be conjured. The nurse is the counterpart of Mercutio as close friend and confidant to Juliet. She is a foster mother to Juliet, having been her companion since birth; She is closest to the young women, acting the go-between in the developing relationship between the two young lovers. The nurse is the caregiver in the story.
It is obvious to us in both renditions that she understands Juliet’s feelings and is tentative to her needs. She is motivated by her love for this girl, going out of her way to accommodate her mistresses needs and desires. There is certainly an earthy wisdom and common sense about this older woman. She is witty and in touch with her youth. All of these characteristics and qualities, and many more, are clearly seen in the Luhrmann’s interpretation and the play.
Here is an example of both her care of Juliet as well as her natural tendency to be coarse: ‘I am the drudge, and toil in your delight, But you shall bear the burden soon at night.’ (A-2, S-5, L-74-75). Luhrmann has portrayed her in the movie as a jolly, voluptuous, Italian woman and makes it clearly seen that Juliet is like her own child. We laugh with her and admire the manner in which she deals with the developing issues her mistress faces. However when Romeo is banished, Juliet is faced with the prospect of marrying Paris, the more practical side of her nature emerges. Her advice to Juliet is to marry Paris. Luhrmann allows us to see that this advice comes from her heart and is the result of her own practical nature and experiences of life.
In Luhrmann’s and Shakespeare’s interpretations we see how adoring and devoted to Juliet the nurse is, in her role as caregiver and confidante. I believe Luhrmann has done the characters justice and allowed us, the audience, to see in, fall in love with and understand these two strong characters Shakespeare created. I hope I have given you a small insight into these two essential characters as Luhrmann did for me.